Ic tag issuing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A first conveyance unit and a second conveyance unit functioning as pre-processing conveyance units provided in a pre-processing device and conveying the IC tag continuous body by suctioning it to conveyance belts, a second tractor feeder unit functioning as a print-processing tractor feeder unit provided in a printing device and conveying the IC tag continuous body by engaging and disengaging feed pins in sprocket holes formed in the IC tag continuous body, and a fourth conveyance unit functioning as a post-processing conveyance unit provided in a post-processing device and conveying the IC tag continuous body by suctioning it to a conveyance belt are provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an IC tag issuing apparatus writingdesired identification data in each of IC tags of an IC tag continuousbody on which the IC tags are aligned in multiple rows in a non-contactmanner and issuing it.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, technologies for facilitating inventory control, salescontrol and the like of merchandises by an RFID (radio frequencyidentification) using an IC tag having an IC chip and an antenna andmaking electric writing/reading of information in a non-contact mannerpossible has been proposed. The IC chip and the antenna are contained ina sheet such as a label, a price tag and the like as an inlay (inlet)formed on a film in general, and an IC tag is configured. The inlayitself including the IC chip and the antenna is also called an IC tag,an electronic tag, a wireless tag and an RFID tag in some cases but inthis Description, a sheet such as a merchandise tag (price tag), a labeland the like including the IC chip and the antenna is called an IC tag.

The IC tag is offered as an IC tag continuous body on which the IC tagsare continuously aligned in general in many cases, and an IC tag issuingapparatus which writes desired data such as a product number in the ICtag continuous body in a non-contact manner and applies printing of dataof the product or a producer or a barcode obtained by coding it or thelike on a surface of each of them and issues the result is proposed (seePatent Literature 1, for example).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-338179

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by Invention

Particularly in recent years, usage of the IC tags has increased, andneeds for a large quantity of issuance of the IC tags at a high speedhave heightened. In improvement of an issuing speed of the IC tag, theIC tag continuous body on which the IC tags are aligned in one row haslimitation, and issuance using the IC tag continuous body on which theIC tags are aligned in multiple rows is in demand. If the IC tagcontinuous body on which the IC tags are aligned in multiple rows isused, a width of the IC tag continuous body becomes wider, and there isa problem that defective data writing, defective printing, and defectivedata reading caused by meandering, skewing or rising of the IC tagcontinuous body can easily occur.

That is, an IC tag can be easily broken when an external force isapplied in a direction perpendicular to a sheet. An IC tag issuingapparatus generally has a long conveyance path including apre-processing device for writing identification data such as amanagement number in the IC tags in multiple rows aligned as the IC tagcontinuous body, a printing device for printing print data on the IC tagin which the identification data has been written, and a post-processingdevice for reading and verifying the identification data written to theIC tag. In the IC tag issuing apparatus having such a long conveyancepath, if the IC tag continuous body which can be easily broken when anexternal force is applied in the direction perpendicular to the sheet,it is difficult to convey the IC tag continuous body with an appropriatetension being given, and there is the problem that defective datawriting, defective printing, and defective data reading caused bymeandering, skewing or rising of the IC tag continuous body can easilyoccur.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of theprior-art technology as above and to provide an IC tag issuing apparatuscapable of conveying the IC tag continuous body with an appropriatetension being given and of preventing defective data writing, defectiveprinting, and defective data reading.

Solution to Problem

The present invention solves the problem by means for solving below. AnIC tag issuing apparatus of the present invention is an IC tag issuingapparatus having a pre-processing device configured to writeidentification data to IC tags arranged in multiple rows aligned as anIC tag continuous body, a printing device configured to print print dataon the IC tags to which the identification data has been written, and apost-processing device configured to read and verify the identificationdata written to the IC tags, the IC tag issuing apparatus comprising apre-processing conveyance unit provided in the pre-processing device,the pre-processing conveyance unit being configured to convey the IC tagcontinuous body by suctioning the IC tag continuous body to a conveyancebelt, a print-processing tractor feeder unit provided in the printingdevice, the print-processing tractor feeder unit being configured toconvey the IC tag continuous body by engaging and disengaging feed pinsin sprocket holes formed in the IC tag continuous body, and apost-processing conveyance unit provided in the post-processing device,the post-processing conveyance unit being configured to convey the ICtag continuous body by suctioning the IC tag continuous body to aconveyance belt. Moreover, in the IC tag issuing apparatus of thepresent invention, a conveyance speed of the pre-processing conveyanceunit may be set slower than the conveyance speed of the print-processingtractor feeder unit, and the conveyance speed of the post-processingconveyance unit may be set faster than the conveyance speed of theprint-processing tractor feeder unit. Moreover, in the IC tag issuingapparatus of the present invention, a pre-processing antenna unitarranged to face the pre-processing conveyance unit, the pre-processingantenna unit being configured to write the identification data to the ICtags, and a post-processing antenna unit arranged to face thepost-processing conveyance unit, the post-processing antenna unit beingconfigured to read the identification data written to the IC tags may beprovided. Moreover, in the IC tag issuing apparatus of the presentinvention, a pre-processing tractor feeder unit provided on an upstreamside from the pre-processing conveyance unit of the pre-processingdevice, the pre-processing tractor feeder unit being configured toconvey the IC tag continuous body by engaging and disengaging the feedpins in the sprocket holes formed in the IC tag continuous body, androtation angle detecting means provided on a driving shaft of thepre-processing tractor feeder unit may be provided, and thepre-processing tractor feeder unit stops driving before the IC tagcontinuous body reaches the print-processing tractor feeder unit afterthe IC tag continuous body is conveyed to the pre-processing conveyanceunit. Moreover, in the IC tag issuing apparatus of the presentinvention, the conveyance belts of the pre-processing conveyance unitand the post-processing conveyance unit may be urethane belts, andsupport plates supporting the conveyance belts may be POM (polyacetalresin) plates.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, such effects are exerted that anappropriate tension can be given to the IC tag continuous body on whichthe IC tags are aligned in multiple rows, and defective data writing,defective printing, and defective data reading caused by meandering,skewing or rising of the IC tag continuous body can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating configuration of anembodiment of an IC tag issuing apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating configuration of a part of an IC tagcontinuous body illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are an enlarged front view and a sectional viewillustrating configuration of an IC tag illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating configuration of inlay illustratedin FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view illustrating configuration of apre-processing device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view illustrating the configuration of thepre-processing device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view illustrating configuration of a supportplate in the pre-processing device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating configuration of a firstantenna unit illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating configuration of arow antenna unit illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of the rowantenna unit illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view illustrating configuration of aprinting device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view illustrating configuration of apost-processing device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a control unitcontrolling an operation of an embodiment of an IC tag issuing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are views illustrating a product information examplestored in an information storage unit illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are views illustrating a page information example anda reissuance information example stored in an information storage unitillustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view for explaining a conveyance operation inan embodiment of the IC tag issuing apparatus according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An IC tag issuing apparatus of this embodiment writes desired data ineach of IC chips of an IC tag continuous body 1 in a non-contact mannerand also applies printing of information of a product or a producer, abarcode obtained by coding it or the like on the respective surfaces andissues the result. The IC tag issuing apparatus includes a placing base2 on which the IC tag continuous body 1 before issuance is placed, apre-processing device 3, a printing device 4, a post-processing device5, and the placing base 2 on which the issued IC tag continuous body 1is placed by referring to FIG. 1.

The IC tag continuous body 1 is a continuous sheet (fan-folded sheet) inwhich a page on which IC tags 10 are aligned in multiple rows is foldedalternately by referring to FIG. 2. In this embodiment, 20 pieces, thatis, 10 pieces*2 lines of the IC tags 10 from a first row to a tenth roware arranged on one page. On both sides of the IC tag continuous body 1,sprocket holes 11 are formed at an equal interval. Moreover, in thevicinity of a head of a conveyance direction in a region in which thesprocket holes 11 are formed, a detection mark 12 indicating start ofthe page is printed. The IC tag continuous body 1 may be a rolled sheetwound in a roll state and in this case, the detection mark 12 indicatingthe start of the IC tag 10 may be printed on every line.

By referring to FIG. 3A, the IC tag 10 contains an inlay 13. The FIG. 3Ais an enlarged front view of a region indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2and FIG. 3B is an X-X sectional view indicated in FIG. 3A. The IC tag 10of this embodiment is a merchandise tag and as illustrated in FIG. 3B,the inlay 13 is contained by being interposed between a front sheet 10 aand a back sheet 10 b.

The inlay 13 is, by referring to FIGS. 3B and 4, constituted by a basematerial 13 a, an antenna 14, and an IC chip 15. Regarding the inlay 13,the base material 13 a is constituted by a synthetic resin film, and alinear antenna 14 made of a conductor is formed on the base material 13a and then, an IC chip 15 is bonded on this antenna 14 by using aconductive adhesive, for example. The antenna 14 has an elongated shapewith a conveyance direction as its longitudinal direction, and aloop-shaped antenna element 14 a is provided at a center part in thelongitudinal direction. And a dipole antenna element 14 b connected tothe loop-shaped antenna element 14 a and extending linearly toward bothfront and rear ends in the longitudinal direction is provided. Moreover,a meander line antenna element 14 c connected to the dipole antennaelement 14 b and configured to be folded in a zigzag manner in a widthdirection orthogonal to the conveyance direction is provided in frontand rear of the loop-shaped antenna element 14 a in the longitudinaldirection, respectively.

The IC chip 15 incorporates a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM or thelike in which memory is stored without power supply. The non-volatilememory of the IC chip 15 includes a tag ID storage region in which aunique number of each inlay 13 (hereinafter referred to as a tag ID) isstored in advance and a user storage region rewritable by a user. The ICchip 15 includes a communication function by an electromagneticinduction method for transmitting energy and signals by magnetic fluxconnection of an antenna coil of a reader/writer and the loop-shapedantenna element 14 a of the antenna 14 and a communication function by aradio wave method for transmitting energy and signals by exchangingradio waves between the antenna of the reader/writer and the dipoleantenna element 14 b as well as the meander line antenna element 14 c ofthe antenna 14.

A placing base 2 has a placing plate 21 on which the IC tag continuousbody 1 is placed. The placing plate 21 is constituted capable ofchanging a position of a placing surface with respect to thepre-processing device 3 and the post-processing device 5 and an angle ofthe placing surface in accordance with a size or a paper quality of theIC tag continuous body 1. As a result, the IC tag continuous body 1placed on the placing base 2 can be smoothly supplied to thepre-processing device 3 and the IC tag continuous body 1 issued from thepost-processing device 5 can be orderly placed on the placing base 2.

The pre-processing device 3 is an encode device for writing data desiredby a user such as a product number and the like in the respective ICtags 10 (the user storage region of the IC chip 15) of the IC tagcontinuous body 1. The pre-processing device 3 includes, by referring toFIGS. 1 and 5, a first antenna unit 31, a second antenna unit 32, athird antenna unit 33, a first tractor feeder unit 61, a firstconveyance unit 62, a second conveyance unit 63, a first negativepressure suction unit 71, a second negative pressure suction unit 72, athird negative pressure suction unit 73, a fourth negative pressuresuction unit 74, a first sensor 81, a second sensor 82, a third sensor83, and a first rotary encoder unit 91.

The first tractor feeder unit 61 is arranged on an uppermost stream inreception of the IC tag continuous body 1 before issuance and byreferring to FIGS. 5 to 7, an endless belt 61 c extended between adriving roller 61 a and a driven roller 61 b and rotationally moved anda first tractor feeder driving motor 61 d for rotationally moving theendless belt 61 c through the driving roller 61 a are provided, and onthe endless belt 61 c, feed pins 61 e engaged with the sprocket holes 11of the IC tag continuous body 1 are formed. As a result, as the firsttractor feeder unit 61 rotationally moves the endless belt 61 c, thefeed pins 61 e are sequentially engaged with the sprocket holes 11,capable of being disengaged, so as to tract and convey the IC tagcontinuous body 1 toward the first conveyance unit 62 on a downstreamside. Moreover, on the driving roller 61 a of the first tractor feederunit 61, the first rotary encoder unit 91 for detecting rotation of thedriving roller 61 a is provided. In the vicinity of the first tractorfeeder unit 61, the first sensor 81 for detecting the detection mark 12of the IC tag continuous body 1 is provided. As a result, it is soconfigured that the position of the IC tag continuous body 1 (IC tag 10)in the pre-processing device 3 can be detected by the detection resultsof the first sensor 81 and the first rotary encoder unit 91.

The first conveyance unit 62 is arranged on the downstream side of thefirst tractor feeder unit 61 and includes an endless conveyance belt 62c extended between a driving roller 62 a and a driven roller 62 b androtationally moved and a first conveyance belt driving motor 62 d forrotationally moving the conveyance belt 62 c through the driving roller62 a. The first conveyance unit 62 conveys the IC tag continuous body 1placed on an upper surface of the conveyance belt 62 c toward the secondconveyance unit 63 on the downstream side by rotationally moving theconveyance belt 62 c. Between the first conveyance unit 62 and thesecond conveyance unit 63, the second sensor 82 for detecting thedetection mark 12 of the IC tag continuous body 1 is provided and isconfigured capable of detecting that the head of a page has reachedbetween the first conveyance unit 62 and the second conveyance unit 63.

Moreover, at a position between the driving roller 62 a and the drivenroller 62 b below the upper conveyance belt 62 c, a support plate 62 eis arranged at positions in contact with a lower surface (innerperipheral surface) of the upper conveyance belt 62 c. Therefore, whenthe IC tag continuous body 1 is conveyed from the upstream side towardthe downstream side, the conveyance belt 62 c is rotationally movedwhile sliding on the support plate 62 e.

At a spot of the support plate 62 e faced with the conveyance belt 62 c,suction holes 71 b through which air is suctioned by rotation of a firstsuction fan 71 a of the first negative pressure suction unit 71 andsuction holes 72 b through which air is suctioned by rotation of asecond suction fan 72 a of the second negative pressure suction unit 72are formed in plural along the conveyance direction. In the conveyancebelt 62 c, a large number of through holes 62 f are formed. Therefore,by a negative pressure by the first negative pressure suction unit 71and the second negative pressure suction unit 72, the IC tag continuousbody 1 is conveyed in a state in close contact with the conveyance belt62 c.

The second conveyance unit 63 is arranged on the downstream side of thefirst conveyance unit 62 and includes an endless conveyance belt 63 cextended between a driving roller 63 a and a driven roller 63 b androtationally moved and a second conveyance belt driving motor 63 d forrotationally moving the conveyance belt 63 c through the driving roller63 a. The second conveyance unit 63 conveys the IC tag continuous body 1placed on the upper surface of the conveyance belt 63 c toward theprinting device 4 on the downstream side by rotationally moving theconveyance belt 63 c. Between the second conveyance unit 63 and theprinting device 4, the third sensor 83 for detecting the detection mark12 of the IC tag continuous body 1 is provided and is configured capableof detecting that the head of a page has reached between the secondconveyance unit 63 and the printing device 4.

Moreover, at a position between the driving roller 63 a and the drivenroller 63 b below the upper conveyance belt 63 c, a support plate 63 eis arranged at a position in contact with a lower surface (innerperipheral surface) of the upper conveyance belt 63 c. Therefore, whenthe IC tag continuous body 1 is conveyed from the upstream side towardthe downstream side, the conveyance belt 63 c is rotationally movedwhile sliding on the support plate 63 e.

At a spot of the support plate 63 e faced with the conveyance belt 63 c,suction holes 73 b through which air is suctioned by rotation of a thirdsuction fan 73 a of the third negative pressure suction unit 73 andsuction holes 74 b through which air is suctioned by rotation of afourth suction fan 74 a of the fourth negative pressure suction unit 74are formed in plural along the conveyance direction. In the conveyancebelt 63 c, a large number of through holes 63 f are formed. Therefore,by a negative pressure by the third negative pressure suction unit 73and the fourth negative pressure suction unit 74, the IC tag continuousbody 1 is conveyed in a state in close contact with the conveyance belt63 c.

The first antenna unit 31 and the second antenna unit 32 are arrangedclose to and facing above the first conveyance unit 62. The firstantenna unit 31 and the second antenna unit 32 are antennas conductingcommunication with the IC tag 10 in the electromagnetic induction methodand have the same configuration. The first antenna unit 31 is used forreading the tag ID from the IC tag 10. The second antenna unit 32 isused for writing the desired data such as a product number and the likein the IC tag 10 (the user storage region of the IC chip 15).Hereinafter, the data to be written to the IC tag 10 is calledidentification data. Hereinafter, configuration of the first antennaunit 31 will be described in detail by referring to FIGS. 8 to 10.

By referring to FIG. 8(a), in the first antenna unit 31, row antennaunits 31 a to 31 j are arranged at positions facing the IC tags 10 fromthe first row to the tenth row of the IC tag continuous body 1 conveyedby the first conveyance unit 62, respectively. The row antenna units 31a to 31 j are divided into the upstream-side row antenna units 31 a to31 e and the downstream-side row antenna units 31 f to 31 j and arrangedin a zigzag manner, in which the upstream-side row antenna units 31 a to31 e are arranged by facing the IC tags 10 on the odd-number rows,respectively, while the downstream-side row antenna units 31 f to 31 jare arranged by facing the IC tags 10 on the even-number rows,respectively.

A shield plate 310 is a support plate supporting the row antenna units31 a to 31 j and is constituted by metal such as aluminum or aconductive substance such as a conductive resin. The shield plate 310 isarranged in parallel with and close to the IC tag continuous body 1conveyed by the first conveyance unit 62, and opening portions 311 a to311 j corresponding to the row antenna units 31 a to 31 j, respectively,are formed by being divided into the upstream opening portions 311 a to311 e and the downstream opening portions 311 f to 311 j in a zigzagmanner. Each of the opening portions 311 a to 311 j has an elongated andsubstantially rectangular shape with the conveyance direction as itslongitudinal direction, in which, regarding the upstream-side openingportions 311 a to 311 e, the shape of only one corner on the upstreamside is different, while regarding the downstream opening portions 311 fto 311 j, the shape of only one corner on the downstream side isdifferent. In the shield plate 310, regions formed between theupstream-side opening portions 311 a to 311 e and between the downstreamopening portions 311 f to 311 j, respectively, are interferingpreventing regions preventing interference among communication.

The row antenna units 31 a to 31 j are constituted by a printed board312 having a substantially same shape as those of the opening portions311 a to 311 j, a loop-shaped antenna element 313 formed on a lowersurface of the printed board 312, an antenna terminal 314 installedupright on an upper surface opposite to the loop-shaped antenna element313 on an end portion of the printed board 312, a ferrite sheet 315, andan antenna case 316 covering the printed board 312 from an upper surfaceside by referring to FIGS. 9 and 10. In the printed board 312, the shapeof only one corner on the end portion side on which the antenna terminal314 is installed upright is different. The antenna case 316 isconstituted by metal such as aluminum or a conductive substance such asa conductive resin, an opening 316 a for terminal through which theantenna terminal 314 is penetrated is formed, and by penetrating theantenna terminal 314 into the opening 316 a for terminal in a state inwhich the ferrite sheet 315 is interposed between the antenna case 316and the printed board 312 and by attaching a retaining ring, not shown,to the antenna terminal 314, the printed board 312 is fixed to theantenna case 316. The ferrite sheet 315 covers the loop-shaped antennaelement 313 from the upper surface side of the printed board 312 and cansuppress radiation from the printed board 312. Then, the antenna case316 is fixed to the upper surface side of the shield plate 310 by ascrew 317 so that the printed boards 312 are fitted into the openingportions 311 a to 311 j. In this state, those other than the surfacefaced with the IC tag continuous body 1 are electromagneticallyshielded, and the surface of the printed board 312 on which theloop-shaped antenna element 313 is formed is directly faced with the ICtag continuous body 1 conveyed by the first conveyance unit 62.

In the opening portions 311 a to 311 j and the printed board 312, onlyone corner has a different elongated and substantially rectangular shapeand thus, they are fitted in one unique direction. In the openingportions 311 a to 311 e on the upstream side, the shape of only onecorner on the upstream side is different and thus, in each of the rowantenna units 31 a to 31 e on the upstream side, the antenna terminal314 installed upright on the end portion of the printed board 312 islocated on the upstream side. Moreover, in the opening portions 311 f to311 j on the downstream side, the shape of only one corner on thedownstream side is different and thus, in each of the row antenna units31 f to 31 j on the downstream side, the antenna terminal 314 installedupright on the end portion of the printed board 312 is located on thedownstream side. As described above, each of the antenna terminals 314of the row antenna units 31 a to 31 e arranged on the upstream side andeach of the antenna terminals 314 of the row antenna units 31 f to 31 jarranged on the downstream side are arranged in directions separatedaway from each other, respectively. As a result, interference betweenthe each of the antenna terminals 314 of the row antenna units 31 a to31 e arranged on the upstream side and each of the antenna terminals 314of the row antenna units 31 f to 31 j arranged on the downstream sidecan be prevented.

Reference numeral 318 denoted in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a non-adhesivecoating sheet such as a silicone coating sheet bonded to the lowersurface of the shield plate 310 so as to cover the opening portions 311a to 311 j. If the IC tag continuous body 1 is a label continuous bodytemporarily attached to a mount, by providing the non-adhesive coatingsheet 318, adhesion of the label to the shield plate 310 can beprevented. The non-adhesive coating sheet 318 can be bonded so as tocover the whole shield plate 310 including the opening portions 311 a to311 j on the lower surface.

The third antenna unit 33 is arranged facing above the second conveyanceunit 63. The third antenna unit 33 is an antenna conductingcommunication with the IC tag 10 in a radio wave method different fromthose of the first antenna unit 31 and the second antenna unit 32. Thethird antenna unit 33 is used for writing identification data in the ICtag 10.

The printing device 4 is printing means for applying printing of data ofa product or a producer or a barcode obtained by coding it or the likeon the surfaces of the respective IC tags 10 of the IC tag continuousbody 1. Hereinafter, the data of a product or a producer or data such asa barcode obtained by coding it or the like to be printed on the surfaceof the IC tag 10 will be referred to as print data. The printing device4 includes, by referring to FIG. 11, a print unit 41, an opticalfixation unit 42, and a filter unit 43 and by referring to FIG. 1, asecond tractor feeder unit 64, a third conveyance unit 65, a dischargeroller 66, and a fifth negative pressure suction unit 75.

The second tractor feed unit 64 is arranged on the uppermost streamreceiving the IC tag continuous body 1 from the pre-processing device 3and by referring to FIG. 11, includes an endless belt 64 c extendedbetween a driving roller 64 a and a driven roller 64 b and rotationallymoved and a second tractor feeder driving motor 64 d for rotationallymoving the endless belt 64 c through the driving roller 64 a, and on theendless belt 64 c, feed pins 64 e engaged with the sprocket holes 11 ofthe IC tag continuous body 1 are formed. As a result, as the secondtractor feeder unit 64 rotationally moves the endless belt 64 c, thefeed pins 64 e are sequentially engaged with the sprocket holes 11,capable of being disengaged, so as to tract and convey the IC tagcontinuous body 1 toward the print unit 41 on a downstream side.Moreover, on the driving roller 64 a of the second tractor feeder unit64, a second rotary encoder unit 92 for detecting rotation of thedriving roller 64 a is provided. Between the second tractor feeder unit64 and the print unit 41, a fourth sensor 84 for detecting the detectionmark 12 of the IC tag continuous body 1 is provided. As a result, it isso configured that the position of the IC tag continuous body 1 (IC tag10) in the printing device 4 can be detected by the detection results ofthe fourth sensor 84 and the second rotary encoder unit 92.

The print unit 41 employs an electrophotography method such as a laserin which a latent image is formed by laser beams on a photosensitivedrum, and this latent image is developed by a toner and then transferredto the surface of the IC tag 10. The print unit 41 applies printing ofdata of a product or a producer or a barcode obtained by coding it orthe like on the surfaces of the respective IC tags 10 on the IC tagcontinuous body 1 and also prints a page number in a region in thevicinity of a page head other than the IC tag 10 or a region in whichthe sprocket holes 11 are formed, for example. A print method of theprint unit 41 is not limited to the electrophotography method but a heattransfer method, a thermal method or an inkjet method can be also used.

The third conveyance unit 65 is arranged on the downstream side of theprint unit 41 and includes an endless conveyance belt 65 c extendedbetween a driving roller 65 a and a driven roller 65 b and rotationallymoved and a third conveyance belt driving motor 65 d for rotationallymoving the conveyance belt 65 c through the driving roller 65 a. Thethird conveyance unit 65 conveys the IC tag continuous body 1 placed onthe upper surface of the conveyance belt 65 c toward the post-processingdevice 5 through the discharge roller 66 on the downstream side byrotationally moving the conveyance belt 65 c.

At a position between the driving roller 65 a and the driven roller 65 bbelow the upper conveyance belt 65 c, a support plate 65 e is arrangedat a position in contact with the lower surface (inner peripheralsurface) of the upper conveyance belt 65 c. Therefore, when the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is conveyed from the upstream side toward thedownstream side, the conveyance belt 65 c is rotationally moved whilesliding on the support plate 65 e.

In a spot of the support plate 65 e facing the conveyance belt 65 c, aplurality of suction holes through which air is suctioned by rotation ofthe fifth suction fan 75 a of the fifth negative pressure suction unit75 are formed along the conveyance direction. In the conveyance belt 65c, a large number of though holes are formed. Therefore, the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is conveyed by the negative pressure by the fifthnegative pressure suction unit 75 in a state in close contact with theconveyance belt 65 c.

The optical fixation unit 42 fixes a toner image by melting toner havingbeen transferred by the print unit 41 by irradiating flash light using axenon tube or the like to the surface of the IC tag continuous body 1conveyed by the third conveyance unit 65. As a result, the toner imagecan be fixed in a non-contact manner without causing damage (externalforce) to the IC tag 10.

The filter unit 43 is an air filter for erasing gas or odor generated inoptical fixation by the optical fixation unit 42.

The post-processing device 5 verifies that the identification data hasbeen correctly written to the respective IC tags 10 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 and also marks the IC tag 10 in which theidentification data has not been correctly written. The post-processingdevice 5 includes, by referring to FIG. 12, a fourth antenna unit 51, anemboss processing unit 52, a fourth conveyance unit 67, a sixth negativepressure suction unit 76, a seventh negative pressure suction unit 77, apage-number reading unit 93, a fifth sensor 85, a sixth sensor 86, and aseventh sensor 87.

The fourth conveyance unit 67 includes an endless conveyance belt 67 carranged on the uppermost stream of the post-processing device 5receiving the IC tag continuous body 1 from the printing device 4 andextended between a driving roller 67 a and a driven roller 67 b androtationally moved, and a fourth conveyance belt driving motor 67 d forrotationally moving the conveyance belt 67 c through the driving roller67 a. The fourth conveyance unit 67 conveys the IC tag continuous body 1placed on the upper surface of the conveyance belt 67 c toward theemboss processing unit 52 on the downstream side by rotationally movingthe conveyance belt 67 c. Between the fourth conveyance unit 67 and theemboss processing unit 52, the sixth sensor 86 for detecting thedetection mark 12 of the IC tag continuous body 1 is provided and isconfigured capable of detecting that the head of a page has reachedbetween the fourth conveyance unit 67 and the emboss processing unit 52.Moreover, at a discharge port of the emboss processing unit 52, theseventh sensor 87 for detecting the detection mark 12 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is provided and is configured capable of detectingjamming (paper jam) or the like at the emboss processing unit 52.

Moreover, at a position between the driving roller 67 a and the drivenroller 67 b below the upper conveyance belt 67 c, a support plate 67 eis arranged at a position in contact with a lower surface (innerperipheral surface) of the upper conveyance belt 67 c. Therefore, whenthe IC tag continuous body 1 is to be conveyed from the upstream sidetoward the downstream side, the conveyance belt 67 c is rotationallymoved while sliding on the support plate 67 e.

In a spot of the support plate 67 e facing the conveyance belt 67 c,suction holes through which air is suctioned by rotation of the sixthsuction fan 76 a of the sixth negative pressure suction unit 76 andsuction holes through which the air is suctioned by rotation of theseventh suction fan 77 a of the seventh negative pressure suction unit77 are formed in plural along the conveyance direction. In theconveyance belt 67 c, a large number of though holes are formed.Therefore, the IC tag continuous body 1 is conveyed by the negativepressures by the sixth negative pressure suction unit 76 and the seventhnegative pressure suction unit 77 in a state in close contact with theconveyance belt 67 c.

The fifth sensor 85 is arranged in the vicinity of the uppermost streamin the post-processing device 5 receiving the IC tag continuous body 1from the printing device 4 and is configured capable of detecting thatthe head of the page has reached the post-processing device 5. Moreover,the page-number reading unit 93 is also arranged in the vicinity of theuppermost stream receiving the IC tag continuous body 1 from theprinting device 4, and when the fact that the head of the page hasreached the post-processing device 5 is detected by the fifth sensor 85,by photographing the surface of the IC tag continuous body 1, the pagenumber printed by the printing device 4 is read.

The fourth antenna unit 51 is arranged facing above the fourthconveyance unit 67. The fourth antenna unit 51 is an antenna conductingcommunication with the IC tag 10 in a radio wave method different fromthose of the first antenna unit 31 and the second antenna unit 32. Thefourth antenna unit 51 is used for reading the tag ID and theidentification data written to the IC tag 10 from the IC tag 10 conveyedby the fourth conveyance unit 67.

The emboss processing unit 52 includes, by referring to FIG. 12, cuttermembers 53 corresponding to each of the IC tags 10 in multiple rows,respectively. The cutter member 53 is mark giving means for executingemboss processing of cutting and bending a part of an end portion of theIC tag 10. Then, the emboss processing unit 52 executes the embossprocessing by cutting/raising and bending the part of the end portion tothe IC tag 10, by using the cutter member 53, in which theidentification data could not be written correctly.

The first antenna unit 31 as well as the second antenna unit 32, thethird antenna unit 33, and the fourth antenna unit 51 are arrangedfacing the conveyance belt 62 c of the first conveyance unit 62 as wellas the support plate 62 e, the conveyance belt 63 c of the secondconveyance unit 63 as well as the support plate 63 e, and the conveyancebelt 67 c of the fourth conveyance unit 67 as well as the support plate67 e, respectively. Therefore, the conveyance belts 62 c, 63 c, and 67 cas well as the support plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e preferably have lowdielectric constants so that a resonant frequency of the antenna of theIC tag continuous body 1 (IC tags 10) does not change in order to keeptransaction between the IC tag continuous body 1 (IC tags 10) facingeach of the antenna units favorable. Moreover, the conveyance belts 62c, 63 c, and 67 c slide in a state subjected to a negative pressure indirections of the support plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e, respectively, andthus, it is important that friction caused by sliding between theconveyance belts 62 c, 63 c, and 67 c and the support plates 62 e, 63 e,and 67 e is small, and the conveyance belts 62 c, 63 c, and 67 c and thesupport plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e have excellent friction resistance(material with low friction coefficients) and hard to be electricallycharged. Thus, in this embodiment, urethane belts are used for theconveyance belts 62 c, 63 c, and 67 c, and POM (polyacetal resin) platesare used for the support plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e.

Subsequently, configuration of the control unit for controlling anoperation of the IC tag issuing apparatus of this embodiment will bedescribed in detail by referring to FIGS. 13 to 15. The IC tag issuingapparatus of this embodiment includes, by referring to FIG. 13, aconveyance control unit 101, a writing control unit 102, a print controlunit 103, an information storage unit 110, a tag ID reading unit 121, afirst identification data writing unit 122, a second identification datawriting unit 123, and an identification data reading unit 124.

The conveyance control unit 101 is an information processing unit suchas a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM(Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. The ROMof the conveyance control unit 101 stores a control program forperforming conveyance control of the IC tag continuous body 1. Theconveyance control unit 101 causes the IC tag continuous body 1 to beconveyed by controlling a conveyance constituent element group (thefirst tractor feeder driving motor 61 d, the first conveyance beltdriving motor 62 d, the second conveyance belt driving motor 63 d, thesecond tractor feeder driving motor 64 d, the third conveyance beltdriving motor 65 d, the fourth conveyance belt driving motor 67 d) and asuction constituent element group (the first suction fan 71 a, thesecond suction fan 72 a, the third suction fan 73 a, the fourth suctionfan 74 a, the fifth suction fan 75 a, the sixth suction fan 76 a, theseventh suction fan 77 a) in accordance with inputs from a positionsensor group (the first sensor 81, the first rotary encoder unit 91, thesecond sensor 82, the third sensor 83, the fourth sensor 84, the secondrotary encoder unit 92, the fifth sensor 85, the sixth sensor 86, theseventh sensor 87) by reading the control program stored in the ROM andextending the control program to the RAM.

The writing control unit 102 is an information processing unit such as amicrocomputer or the like including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), aROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. TheROM of the writing control unit 102 stores a control program for writingthe identification data in the respective IC tags 10 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1. The writing control unit 102 writes theidentification data in the respective IC tags 10 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 by reading the control program stored in the ROM andby extending the control program to the RAM so as to control acommunication constituent element group (the tag ID reading unit 121,the first identification data writing unit 122, the secondidentification data writing unit 123, the identification data readingunit 124).

The print control unit 103 is an information processing unit such as amicrocomputer or the like including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), aROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. TheROM of the print control unit 103 stores a control program for operatingthe print unit 41 and the optical fixation unit 42. The print controlunit 103 causes the print data to be printed on the surfaces of therespective IC tags 10 of the IC tag continuous body 1 by reading thecontrol program stored in the ROM and by extending the control programto the RAM so as to control the print unit 41 and the optical fixationunit 42.

The information storage unit 110 is storage means such as asemiconductor memory, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and the like and includesa product information storage portion 111, a page information storageportion 112, and a reissuance information storage portion 113.

The product information storage portion 111 is storage means for storingproduct information input through a network, not shown, or variousrecording media. The product information is list information composed ofidentification data (management number and the like) to be written tothe respective IC tags 10 of the IC tag continuous body 1, print data(product number, product name and the like) to be printed on thesurfaces of the respective IC tags 10 of the IC tag continuous body 1,and the tag ID of the IC tag 10 in which the identification data iswritten as illustrated in FIG. 14. The tag ID is empty as illustrated inFIG. 14A until the identification data is written to the IC tag 10, andthe tag ID of the IC tag 10 in which the identification data has beenwritten is described as illustrated in FIG. 14B after the identificationdata is written to the IC tag 10.

The page information storage portion 112 is storage means for storingpage information generated for each page of the IC tag continuous body1. The page information is composed of, by referring to FIG. 15A, matrixinformation indicating a position of the tag ID on the page, theread-out tag ID, the identification data (management number and thelike) to be written to the respective IC tags 10 of one page, the printdata (product number, product name and the like) to be printed on thesurfaces of the respective IC tags 10 of one page, and the tag ID of theIC tag 10 in which the identification data is written. As the pageinformation storage portion 112, a storage region may be ensured on theRAM of the writing control unit 102 or the print control unit 103 so asto be used as a buffer.

The reissuance information storage portion 113 is storage means forstoring reissuance information for reissuance altogether at the end. Thereissuance information is composed of, by referring to FIG. 15B, theidentification data which failed to be written to the IC tag 10 and thecorresponding print data (product number, product name and the like).

The tag ID reading unit 121 is a reader/writer for reading the tag ID inan electromagnetic induction method from the IC tag 10 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 being conveyed by the first conveyance unit 62 byusing the first antenna unit 31. The tag ID reading unit 121 has afunction of conducting communication with the IC tag 10 through aplurality of channels with different frequencies and is configured touse different channels for the row antenna units 31 a to 31 j adjacentat least in the width direction and a diagonal direction.

The first identification data writing unit 122 is a reader/writer forwriting the identification data in the electromagnetic induction methodin the IC tag 10 of the IC tag continuous body 1 being conveyed by thefirst conveyance unit 62 by using the second antenna unit 32. The firstidentification data writing unit 122 has a function of conductingcommunication with the IC tag 10 through a plurality of channels withdifferent frequencies and is configured to use different channels forthe row antenna units 32 a to 32 j adjacent at least in the widthdirection and the diagonal direction.

The second identification data writing unit 123 is a reader/writer forwriting the identification data in the radio wave method in the IC tag10 of the IC tag continuous body 1 being conveyed by the secondconveyance unit 63 by using the third antenna unit 33.

The identification data reading unit 124 is a reader/writer for readingthe tag ID and the identification data in the radio wave method from theIC tag 10 of the IC tag continuous body 1 being conveyed by the fourthconveyance unit 67 by using the fourth antenna unit 51.

Subsequently, a conveyance operation of the IC tag continuous body 1 inthe IC tag issuing apparatus of this embodiment will be described indetail by referring to FIG. 16. When the IC tag continuous body 1 is seton the first tractor feeder unit 61 and a start button, not shown, ispressed down, the conveyance control unit 101 causes the IC tagcontinuous body 1 to be conveyed by controlling the conveyanceconstituent element group (the first tractor feeder driving motor 61 d,the first conveyance belt driving motor 62 d, the second conveyance beltdriving motor 63 d, the second tractor feeder driving motor 64 d, thethird conveyance belt driving motor 65 d, the fourth conveyance beltdriving motor 67 d) and the suction constituent element group (the firstsuction fan 71 a, the second suction fan 72 a, the third suction fan 73a, the fourth suction fan 74 a, the fifth suction fan 75 a, the sixthsuction fan 76 a, the seventh suction fan 77 a). In the IC tag issuingapparatus of this embodiment, conveyance of the IC tag continuous body 1is performed on the basis of a conveyance speed of the second tractorfeeder unit 64 of the printing device 4. That is, in the second tractorfeeder unit 64, since the feed pins 64 e are engaged with the sprocketholes 11, the IC tag continuous body 1 is conveyed at the conveyancespeed of the second tractor feeder unit 64. On the other hand, theconveyance speeds of the first conveyance unit 62 and the secondconveyance unit 63 of the pre-processing device 3 are set slower thanthe conveyance speed of the second tractor feeder unit 64, and theconveyance speed of the fourth conveyance unit 67 of the post-processingdevice 5 is set faster than the conveyance speed of the second tractorfeeder unit 64. Therefore, in the first conveyance unit 62 and thesecond conveyance unit 63 of the pre-processing device 3, since thespeed at which the IC tag continuous body 1 is conveyed is faster thanthe rotational moving speeds of the conveyance belts 62 c and 63 c ofthe first conveyance unit 62 and the second conveyance unit 63, the ICtag continuous body 1 is pulled to the downstream side in the conveyancedirection and is conveyed while slightly sliding on the conveyance belts62 c and 63 c. Moreover, in the fourth conveyance unit 67 of thepost-processing device 5, since the speed at which the IC tag continuousbody 1 is conveyed is slower than the rotational moving speed of theconveyance belt 67 c of the fourth conveyance unit 67, the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is pulled to the upstream side in the conveyancedirection and is conveyed while slightly sliding on the conveyance belt67 c. At this time, on the IC tag continuous body 1, a force acts in adirection to be brought into close contact with the conveyance belts 62c, 63 c, and 67 c by the negative pressures of the first negativepressure suction unit 71, the second negative pressure suction unit 72,the third negative pressure suction unit 73, the fourth negativepressure suction unit 74, the sixth negative pressure suction unit 76,and the seventh negative pressure suction unit 77. Therefore, the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is conveyed in a state keeping a tension in theconveyance direction without rattling in the first conveyance unit 62and the second conveyance unit 63 of the pre-processing device 3 and thefourth conveyance unit 67 of the post-processing device 5. With respectto the conveyance speed of the second tractor feeder unit 64, theconveyance speed of the first conveyance unit 62 and the secondconveyance unit 63 of the pre-processing device 3 is preferably setwithin a range of 90 to 99%, and the conveyance speed of the fourthconveyance unit 67 of the post-processing device 5 within 101 to 110% inaccordance with a friction force of each of the conveyance belts and asuction force of each of the suction fans. As a result, a partial riseof the sprocket hole 11 (breakage or removal of the sprocket hole 11)can be prevented, skewing of the IC tag continuous body 1 can beprevented, and moreover, generation of wrinkles of the IC tag continuousbody 1 can be prevented, and a sheet cut at perforation between pages ofthe IC tag continuous body 1 can be prevented. Moreover, the firsttractor feeder unit 61 of the pre-processing device 3 is driven only inan initial stage until the tip end of the IC tag continuous body 1reaches the printing device 4 and then, stops driving and enters a freestate after that. Therefore, since the first tractor feeder unit 61 ofthe pre-processing device 3 has the feed pins 61 e engaged with thesprocket holes 11, it is rotationally moved at a speed at which the ICtag continuous body 1 is conveyed by the second tractor feeder unit 64of the printing device 4.

The conveyance control unit 101 has a function of changing the suctionforce by the first negative pressure suction unit 71, the secondnegative pressure suction unit 72, the third negative pressure suctionunit 73, the fourth negative pressure suction unit 74, the sixthnegative pressure suction unit 76, and the seventh negative pressuresuction unit 77 in plural stages, respectively (10 stages in thisembodiment) by controlling the rotation numbers of the first suction fan71 a, the second suction fan 72 a, the third suction fan 73 a, thefourth suction fan 74 a, the sixth suction fan 76 a, and the seventhsuction fan 77 a, respectively. The conveyance control unit 101 receivessheet information (sheet type, sheet thickness and the like) of the ICtag continuous body 1 by input means, not shown, and conveys the IC tagcontinuous body 1 by the suction force according to the sheetinformation of the IC tag continuous body 1 in the pre-processing device3 (first conveyance unit 62, the second conveyance unit 63) until the ICtag continuous body 1 is set on the first tractor feeder unit 61 andreaches the printing device 4 (second tractor feeder unit 64).

FIG. 16(a) is an explanatory view for explaining a control method of thesuction force when a “thick sheet” such as a “merchandise tag” (pricetag) is used as the sheet information of the IC tag continuous body 1.Numeral values in tables in (a) and (b) of FIG. 16 indicate the stagelevel of the suction force by the first negative pressure suction unit71, the second negative pressure suction unit 72, the third negativepressure suction unit 73, the fourth negative pressure suction unit 74,the sixth negative pressure suction unit 76, and the seventh negativepressure suction unit 77 and that the larger the numeral value is, thestronger the suction force is. If the “thick sheet” is used as the sheetinformation, when the IC tag continuous body 1 is set on the firsttractor feeder unit 61 and a start button, not shown, is pressed down,the conveyance control unit 101 controls the suction constituent elementgroup and controls the suction force of the first negative pressuresuction unit 71 arranged at a spot receiving the IC tag continuous body1 from the first tractor feeder unit 61 in the first conveyance unit 62to “7” and controls the suction forces of the second negative pressuresuction unit 72 in the first conveyance unit 62, the third negativepressure suction unit 73 and the fourth negative pressure suction unit74 in the second conveyance unit 63 to “3”. The suction force “3” is thesuction force of an ordinary operation in which the IC tag continuousbody 1 reaches the printing device 4 and the subsequent conveyance basedon the second tractor feeder unit 64 is being performed and this appliesto all regardless of the sheet information. Therefore, in a state inwhich the IC tag continuous body 1 is being conveyed only by the firsttractor feeder unit 61 and the first conveyance unit 62, the suctionforce at the spot (the first negative pressure suction unit 71) wherethe IC tag continuous body 1 is received from the first tractor feederunit 61 is controlled stronger than usual. As a result, at delivery ofthe IC tag continuous body 1 from the first tractor feeder unit 61 tothe first conveyance unit 62, meandering or skewing of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 and rising of the tip end of the IC tag continuousbody 1 can be prevented.

Subsequently, when the detection mark 12 of the IC tag continuous body 1is detected by the second sensor 82, the conveyance control unit 101stops driving of the first tractor feeder unit 61 into a free state.Then, the conveyance control unit 101 controls the suction forces of thefirst negative pressure suction unit 71 and the second negative pressuresuction unit 72 in the first conveyance unit 62 and the third negativepressure suction unit 73 in the second conveyance unit 63 to “3” andcontrols the suction force of the fourth negative pressure suction unit74 arranged at a spot where the IC tag continuous body 1 is delivered tothe printing device 4 (second tractor feeder unit 64) in the secondconveyance unit 63 to “7”. Therefore, in the state in which the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is conveyed only by the first conveyance unit 62 andthe second conveyance unit 63, the suction force at the spot (fourthnegative pressure suction unit 74) where the IC tag continuous body 1 isdelivered to the printing device 4 is controlled stronger than usual. Asa result, at delivery of the IC tag continuous body 1, the IC tagcontinuous body 1 can be reliably delivered from the second conveyanceunit 63 to the printing device 4 without meandering or skewing of the ICtag continuous body 1 and rising of the tip end thereof. Then, when thedetection mark 12 of the IC tag continuous body 1 is detected by thethird sensor 83 and the IC tag continuous body 1 is delivered from thesecond conveyance unit 63 to the printing device 4 (second tractorfeeder unit 64), the operation proceeds to the aforementioned ordinaryoperation.

In the printing device 4, at the reception of the IC tag continuous body1, initialization processing of moving the feed pin 64 e of the secondtractor feeder unit 64 to a home position is executed. Thisinitialization processing is configured to be executed at timing whenthe detection mark 12 of the IC tag continuous body 1 is detected by thesecond sensor 82 before the IC tag continuous body 1 reaches theprinting device 4. Then, when the detection mark 12 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is detected by the third sensor 83, the conveyancecontrol unit 101 starts driving of the second tractor feeder unit 64 atpredetermined timing and causes the feed pins 64 e to be engaged withthe sprocket holes 11 of the IC tag continuous body 1 delivered from thesecond conveyance unit 63.

Moreover, in the second tractor feeder unit 64, a sheet detectionsensor, not shown, for detecting the IC tag continuous body 1 isprovided. This sheet detection sensor is constituted by an actuatorrotationally moving in contact with the IC tag continuous body 1conveyed by the second tractor feeder unit 64 and a photo sensor fordetecting the rotational movement of the actuator, for example. Then,the conveyance control unit 101 determines whether or not delivery ofthe IC tag continuous body 1 has succeeded by an output from the sheetdetection sensor, not shown, of the second tractor feeder unit 64 atdelivery of the IC tag continuous body 1 from the second conveyance unit63 to the second tractor feeder unit 64. If the IC tag continuous body 1is detected by the sheet detection sensor, not shown, of the secondtractor feeder unit 64 and it is determined that the delivery hassucceeded, the operation proceeds to the aforementioned ordinaryoperation as it is. On the other hand, if the IC tag continuous body 1is not detected by the sheet detection sensor, not shown, of the secondtractor feeder unit 64 and it is determined that the delivery has failed(the feed pins 64 e were not well engaged with the sprocket holes 11 ofthe IC tag continuous body 1), the conveyance control unit 101 performsa retry operation. The retry operation is to reverse the conveyancedirections of the first conveyance unit 62 and the second conveyanceunit 63 so as to return the tip end of the IC tag continuous body 1 toabove the second conveyance unit 63 and also to execute theinitialization processing of the second tractor feeder unit 64 and toreturn the conveyance directions of the first conveyance unit 62 and thesecond conveyance unit 63 to forward rotation so as to feed the IC tagcontinuous body 1 to the second tractor feeder unit 64. The number oftimes of performance of the retry operation is set in advance. If thedelivery of the IC tag continuous body 1 does not succeed even after thepreset number of times of performance of the retry operation, theconveyance control unit 101 determines it to be jamming (paper jam) andexecutes a jamming processing operation such as stop of the operation ofthe device or reversal of the conveyance directions of the firstconveyance unit 62 and the second conveyance unit 63 so as to return theIC tag continuous body 1 to the placing base 2.

FIG. 16(b) is an explanatory view for explaining a control method of thesuction force when a “thin sheet” such as a label or the like is used asthe sheet information of the IC tag continuous body 1. If the “thinsheet” is used as the sheet information, when the IC tag continuous body1 is set on the first tractor feeder unit 61 and the start button, notshown, is pressed down, the conveyance control unit 101 controls thesuction constituent element group and controls the suction forces of thefirst negative pressure suction unit 71 and the second negative pressuresuction unit 72 in the first conveyance unit 62 and the third negativepressure suction unit 73 and the fourth negative pressure suction unit74 in the second conveyance unit 63 to “10” which is the maximum. Thisstate is continued until the detection mark 12 of the IC tag continuousbody 1 is detected by the third sensor 83 and the IC tag continuous body1 is delivered from the second conveyance unit 63 to the printing device4. If the IC tag continuous body 1 is the “thin sheet” such as a labelor the like, meandering or skewing of the IC tag continuous body 1 andrising of the tip end of the IC tag continuous body 1 can easily occurand thus, the state of being suctioned to the first conveyance unit 62and the second conveyance unit 63 by a strong suction force is continueduntil the IC tag continuous body 1 reaches the printing device 4 and theconveyance is switched to the subsequent conveyance based on the secondtractor feeder unit 64.

In this embodiment, the suction forces of the sixth negative pressuresuction unit 76 and the seventh negative pressure suction unit 77 in thefourth conveyance unit 67 of the post-processing device 5 are controlledto “5” at all times. Moreover, the suction forces of the first negativepressure suction unit 71, the second negative pressure suction unit 72,the third negative pressure suction unit 73, the fourth negativepressure suction unit 74, the sixth negative pressure suction unit 76,and the seventh negative pressure suction unit 77 or timing of switchingthe suction force may be configured settable manually.

Moreover, this embodiment is configured such that the sheet informationof the IC tag continuous body 1 is set in accordance with the thicknessof the sheet and suction force is controlled until the tip end of the ICtag continuous body 1 reaches the printing device 4 but it may be soconfigured that the width of the IC tag continuous body 1 is set as thesheet information and the suction force is controlled until the tip endof the IC tag continuous body 1 reaches the printing device 4. In thiscase, it is desirably controlled such that the smaller the width of theIC tag continuous body 1 is, that is, the smaller the area is, thestronger the suction force becomes.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the IC tag issuingapparatus includes the pre-processing device 3 for writing theidentification data in the IC tags 10 in multiple rows aligned as the ICtag continuous body 1, the printing device 4 for printing the print dataon the IC tag 10 in which the identification data has been written, andthe post-processing device 5 for reading and verifying theidentification data written to the IC tag 10, including the firstconveyance unit 62 and the second conveyance unit 63 functioning as thepre-processing conveyance units provided in the pre-processing device 3and conveying the IC tag continuous body 1 by suctioning it to theconveyance belts 62 c and 63 c, the second tractor feeder unit 64functioning as the print-processing tractor feeder unit provided in theprinting device 4 and conveying the IC tag continuous body 1 by engagingand disengaging feed pins 64 e in sprocket holes 11 formed in the IC tagcontinuous body 1, and the fourth conveyance unit 67 functioning as thepost-processing conveyance unit provided in the post-processing device 5and conveying the IC tag continuous body 1 by suctioning it to theconveyance belt 67 c. By means of this constitution, the IC tagcontinuous body 1 is conveyed on the basis of the second tractor feederunit 64 of the printing device 4, and the IC tag continuous body 1 isbrought into a state in close contact with the conveyance belts 62 c, 63c, and 67 c through a negative pressure by the first conveyance unit 62and the second conveyance unit 63 of the pre-processing device 3 on theupstream side and the fourth conveyance unit 67 of the post-processingdevice 5 on the downstream side, while an appropriate tension can begiven to the conveyance direction. As a result, defective data writing,defecting printing, and defective data reading caused by meandering,skewing or rising of the IC tag continuous body 1 can be prevented.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the conveyance speed of thefirst conveyance unit 62 and the second conveyance unit 63 is set slowerthan the conveyance speed of the second tractor feeder unit 64, and theconveyance speed of the fourth conveyance unit 67 is set faster than theconveyance speed of the second tractor feeder unit 64. By means of thisconstitution, in an ordinary conveyance operation, in the firstconveyance unit 62 and the second conveyance unit 63 of thepre-processing device 3, the speed at which the IC tag continuous body 1is conveyed is faster than rotational moving speeds of the conveyancebelts 62 c and 63 c of the first conveyance unit 62 and the secondconveyance unit 63 and thus, the IC tag continuous body 1 is pulled tothe downstream side in the conveyance direction and is conveyed whileslightly sliding on the conveyance belts 62 c and 63 c, whereby anappropriate tension toward a front in the conveyance direction can begiven to the IC tag continuous body 1. Moreover, in the fourthconveyance unit 67 of the post-processing device 5, since the speed atwhich the IC tag continuous body 1 is conveyed is slower than therotational moving speed of the conveyance belt 67 c of the fourthconveyance unit 67, the IC tag continuous body 1 is pulled to theupstream side in the conveyance direction and is conveyed while slightlysliding on the conveyance belt 67 c, whereby an appropriate tensiontoward a rear in the conveyance direction can be given to the IC tagcontinuous body 1.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the second antenna unit 32 andthe third antenna unit 33 arranged by facing the first conveyance unit62 and the second conveyance unit 63 and writing the identification datain the IC tag 10 and the fourth antenna unit 51 arranged by facing thefourth conveyance unit 67 and reading the identification data written tothe IC tag 10 are provided. By means of this constitution, communicationcan be conducted in a state in which the IC tags 10 of the IC tagcontinuous body 1 being conveyed are reliably faced with the secondantenna unit 32, the third antenna unit 33, and the fourth antenna unit51, whereby communication accuracy can be improved.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the first tractor feeder unit 61provided on the upstream side from the first conveyance unit 62 of thepre-processing device 3 and conveying the IC tag continuous body 1 byengaging and disengaging the feed pins 61 e in the sprocket holes 11formed in the IC tag continuous body 1, and the first rotary encoderunit 91 functioning as the rotation angle detecting means provided onthe driving shaft of the first tractor feeder unit 61 are provided, andthe first tractor feeder unit 61 stops driving before the IC tagcontinuous body 1 reaches the second tractor feeder unit 64 after the ICtag continuous body 1 is conveyed to the first conveyance unit 62. Bymeans of this constitution, the set IC tag continuous body 1 can bereliably conveyed to the first conveyance unit 62. Moreover, since thefirst tractor feeder unit 61 stops driving before the IC tag continuousbody 1 reaches the printing device 4, there is no need ofsynchronization with the ordinary conveyance operation based on theconveyance by the second tractor feeder unit 64, whereby control can besimplified.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the respective conveyance belts62 c, 63 c, and 67 c of the first conveyance unit 62, the secondconveyance unit 63, and the fourth conveyance unit 67 are constituted byurethane belts, and the support plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e supportingthe conveyance belts 62 c, 63 c, and 67 c, respectively, are constitutedby POM (polyacetal resin) plates. By means of this constitution,abrasion caused by sliding between the conveyance belts 62 c, 63 c, and67 c as well as the support plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e can besuppressed. Moreover, by constituting the conveyance belts 62 c, 63 c,and 67 c and the support plates 62 e, 63 e, and 67 e by a material withexcellent friction resistance (material with low friction factor),electric charge can be prevented, and breakage of the IC tag 10 (IC chip15) by electric discharge can be prevented.

The present invention has been described by using the specificembodiment but the aforementioned embodiment is an example, and it isneedless to say that it can be changed and put into practice within arange not departing from the gist of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 IC tag continuous body    -   2 placing base    -   3 pre-processing device    -   4 printing device    -   5 post-processing device    -   10 IC tag    -   11 sprocket hole    -   12 detection mark    -   13 inlay    -   13 a base material    -   14 antenna    -   14 a loop-shaped antenna element    -   14 b dipole antenna element    -   14 c meander line antenna element    -   15 IC chip    -   21 placing plate    -   31 first antenna unit    -   31 a to 31 j row antenna unit    -   32 second antenna unit    -   32 a to 32 j row antenna unit    -   33 third antenna unit    -   41 print unit    -   42 optical fixation unit    -   43 filter unit    -   51 fourth antenna unit    -   52 emboss processing unit    -   53 cutter member    -   61 first tractor feeder unit    -   61 a driving roller    -   61 b driven roller    -   61 c endless belt    -   61 d first tractor feeder driving motor    -   61 e feed pin    -   62 first conveyance unit    -   62 a driving roller    -   62 b driven roller    -   62 c conveyance belt    -   62 d first conveyance belt driving motor    -   62 e support plate    -   62 f through hole    -   63 second conveyance unit    -   63 a driving roller    -   63 b driven roller    -   63 c conveyance belt    -   63 d second conveyance belt driving motor    -   63 e support plate    -   63 f through hole    -   64 second tractor feeder unit    -   64 a driving roller    -   64 b driven roller    -   64 c endless belt    -   64 d second tractor feeder driving motor    -   64 e feed pin    -   65 third conveyance unit    -   65 a driving roller    -   65 b driven roller    -   65 c conveyance belt    -   65 d third conveyance belt driving motor    -   65 e support plate    -   66 discharge roller    -   67 fourth conveyance unit    -   67 a driving roller    -   67 b driven roller    -   67 c conveyance belt    -   67 d fourth conveyance belt driving motor    -   67 e support plate    -   71 first negative pressure suction unit    -   71 a first suction fan    -   71 b suction hole    -   72 second negative pressure suction unit    -   72 a second suction fan    -   72 b suction hole    -   73 third negative pressure suction unit    -   73 a third suction fan    -   73 b suction hole    -   74 fourth negative pressure suction unit    -   74 a fourth suction fan    -   74 b suction hole    -   75 fifth negative pressure suction unit    -   75 a fifth suction fan    -   76 sixth negative pressure suction unit    -   76 a sixth suction fan    -   77 seventh negative pressure suction unit    -   77 a seventh suction fan    -   81 first sensor    -   82 second sensor    -   83 third sensor    -   84 fourth sensor    -   85 fifth sensor    -   86 sixth sensor    -   87 seventh sensor    -   91 first rotary encoder unit    -   92 second rotary encoder unit    -   93 page-number reading unit    -   101 conveyance control unit    -   102 writing control unit    -   103 print control unit    -   110 information storage unit    -   111 product information storage portion    -   112 page information storage portion    -   113 reissuance information storage portion    -   121 tag ID reading unit    -   122 first identification data writing unit    -   123 second identification data writing unit    -   124 identification data reading unit    -   310 shield plate    -   311 a to 311 j opening portion    -   312 printed board    -   313 loop-shaped antenna element    -   314 antenna terminal    -   315 ferrite sheet    -   316 antenna case    -   316 a opening for terminal    -   317 screw    -   318 non-adhesive coating sheet

1.-5. (canceled)
 6. An IC tag issuing method, comprising: pre-processingincluding: conveying an IC tag continuous body in a conveyance directionby suctioning the IC tag continuous body, the IC tag continuous bodyincluding IC tags, and writing identification data to the IC tags of theIC tag continuous body; and post-processing including: conveying the ICtag continuous body by suctioning the IC tag continuous body in theconveyance direction and reading and verifying the identification datawritten to the IC tags of the IC tag continuous body.
 7. The IC tagissuing method according to claim 6, wherein, the IC tag continuous bodyincludes IC tags aligned in multiple rows in a width directionorthogonal to the conveyance direction.
 8. The IC tag issuing methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising: setting a conveyance speed ofthe post-processing such that it is faster than a conveyance speed ofthe pre-processing.
 9. The IC tag issuing method according to claim 6,further comprising: printing of printing print data on the IC tags towhich the identification data has been written.
 10. The IC tag issuingmethod according to claim 9, wherein, the printing includes conveyingthe IC tag continuous body by engaging and disengaging feed pins insprocket holes formed in the IC tag continuous body.
 11. The IC tagissuing method according to claim 9, further comprising: setting aconveyance speed of the pre-processing such that it is lower than aconveyance speed of the printing; and setting a conveyance speed of thepost-processing such that it is faster than the conveyance speed of theprinting.
 12. An IC tag issuing apparatus, comprising: a pre-processingdevice configured to convey an IC tag continuous body in a conveyancedirection, the IC tag continuous body including IC tags, and to writeidentification data to the IC tags of the IC tag continuous body, thepre-processing device including: a pre-processing conveyance unitconfigured to convey the IC tag continuous body by suctioning the IC tagcontinuous body to a conveyance belt; and a post-processing deviceconfigured to convey the IC tag continuous body in the conveyancedirection and to read and verify the identification data written to theIC tags of the IC tag continuous body, the post-processing deviceincluding: a post-processing conveyance unit configured to convey the ICtag continuous body by suctioning the IC tag continuous body to aconveyance belt.
 13. The IC tag issuing apparatus according to claim 12,wherein, the IC tag continuous body includes IC tags aligned in multiplerows in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. 14.The IC tag issuing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, aconveyance speed of the post-processing device is set faster than aconveyance speed of the pre-processing device.
 15. The IC tag issuingapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a printing deviceconfigured to print print data on the IC tags to which theidentification data has been written.
 16. The IC tag issuing apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein, the printing device includes aprint-processing tractor feeder unit which conveys the IC tag continuousbody by engaging and disengaging feed pins in sprocket holes formed inthe IC tag continuous body.
 17. The IC tag issuing apparatus accordingto claim 15, wherein, a conveyance speed of the pre-processingconveyance unit is set slower than a conveyance speed of theprint-processing tractor feeder unit; and a conveyance speed of thepost-processing conveyance unit is set faster than the conveyance speedof the print-processing tractor feeder unit.
 18. The IC tag issuingapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a pre-processingantenna unit arranged to face the pre-processing conveyance unit andconfigured to write the identification data to the IC tags; and apost-processing antenna unit arranged to face the post-processingconveyance unit and configured to read the identification data writtento the IC tags.
 19. The IC tag issuing apparatus according to claim 12,further comprising: a pre-processing tractor feeder unit provided on anupstream side from the pre-processing conveyance unit of thepre-processing device and configured to convey the IC tag continuousbody by engaging and disengaging the feed pins in the sprocket holesformed in the IC tag continuous body; and rotation angle detectorprovided on a driving shaft of the pre-processing tractor feeder unit,wherein the pre-processing tractor feeder unit stops driving before theIC tag continuous body reaches the print-processing tractor feeder unitafter the IC tag continuous body is conveyed to the pre-processingconveyance unit.
 20. The IC tag issuing apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the conveyance belts of the pre-processing conveyance unit andthe post-processing conveyance unit are urethane belts supported by POM(polyacetal resin) support plates.